2012 So Far…

The UK’s negative news media has been on overdrive the last few months, what with a potential Eurozone collapse, the economy threatening to drop back into recession in a play-out of the double dip we all feared 2 years ago, and if you’ve been picking up the Metro or Daily Mail, any number of deadly killer viruses that apparent lurk among us.

So what of PR?

Well, actually, it seems to be in pretty rude health right now. Clients in all sectors are winning business and looking to make hires at all levels. Many people expect this to be a fairly tough year, but the last couple of years have been relatively ‘tough’, yet still the industry has grown (11% sales growth for the media industry in 2011 in the US as a measure). It seems people have become tired of worrying about the imminent meltdown they read of on a day to day basis and started getting on with business (although it has to be said that PR in particular has benefited from a corporate reputation boom as the foundations of pillars and institutions of early 21st century capitalism have feared the rebelling masses).

There is, however, currently a bit of a talent vacuum. It’s not that talent isn’t out there, just that there is some reluctance on the part of candidates to move. ‘Why?’ is tricky to answer. Agencies are sensing the market and trying hard to cling on to their candidates. We’ve certainly seen a return of the ‘crazy counter offer’ over the last six months for headhunted candidates (with 6 or even 8K pay rises involved). But maybe the candidates, who aren’t running businesses themselves, are more affected by the day to day negative press. Maybe. But really, for anyone prepared to start the job hunt, the number of available positions makes it a buyers’ market. And if you’re worried about ‘recession survival’, would you rather do it in the job you’re bored with, or in a new role with a large salary rise? The health of the market suggests the risk involved are much smaller than the media would have you think.

One thing is for sure though – and that’s the importance of social media in your job hunt. Certainly, for recruiters, advertising is less and less effective – and people increasingly expect to be approached through networks in more of a headhunting approach. As recruiters move increasingly over to these means – it’s equally important to make yourself visible to them. And that’s just the start. You can be sure your future employers will be looking you up too. So over the next few months we’ll be blogging on how social media can work for you in a job hunt.

Keep following…